PM urges stronger VN-Laos partnership in fighting cross-border crimes

NDO/VNA – Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc has asked for closer coordination of Laos in preventing cross-border crimes, such as drug trafficking, and ensuring security along the shared border.

During a meeting with Lao Minister of Public Security Somkeo Silavong in Hanoi on March 16, the PM expressed his hope that the public security ministries of the two countries will continue supporting each other in protecting national security and social order and safety in each country in all circumstances.

The two ministries should maintain meetings between leaders of agencies and local police in diverse and flexible forms to exchange information and experience, thus promptly handlingarising problems and crushing schemes to harm bilateral ties.

They should also strengthen cooperation on personnel training, he added.

The two sides should also work together to foil hostile forces’ sabotage activities that aim to induce ethnic minority people, while preventing crimes and hunting criminals, ensuring a shared border of peace, stability and development.

PM Phucpledged that the Vietnamese side is willing to share experience with and support Laos in its national construction and development.

For his part, SomkeoSilavong briefed the host on the outcomes of his visit, especially his talks with the leader of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam.

The two ministries agreed to implement their cooperation in 2017 in accordance with agreements reached between leaders of the two Parties, States and Governments to suit the reality, especially amidst the changing world situation, he said.

He also underscored the importance of security affiliation between the two countries, noting that the two sides should continue fighting all schemes of hostile forces to destroy the bilateral relations.

The same day, Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant To Lam held talks with his Lao counterpart, during which he lauded the fruitful cooperation between the two ministries in 2016.

The two sides’ competent agencies regularly exchanged international and regional information related to the national security as well as social order and safety in each country, he noted.

He suggested that this year they effectively implement agreements reached by leaders of both countries in the new situation, while maintaining meetings between senior leaders to discuss issued related to security and order in each country.

The two sides should also collaborate in raiding cross-border drug trafficking rings and hunting criminals, ensure utmost security and safety during visits and meetings of Party and State leaders, and createfavourable conditions for citizens of this country to live and work legally in the other.

SomkeoSilavong expressed his pleasure with the strong political trust between the two countries as well as the two ministries’ affiliation and mutual support at the world arena, which contribute to preserving national interest and security of each country.

He also showed high consensus on the cooperation orientations between the two ministries in 2017, adding that he hopes their partnership will become more fruitful in the future.

On the occasion, the two ministers also signed the 2017 cooperation minutes between their ministries.